The Tanzania Cycling Association is currently outfitting a team of bicycle riders which gets to represent the country during the forthcoming ‘All African Games,’ coming up in March 2024.
Tanzania’s intended National cycling team will start warming up for the African Games, in January.
Formally known as the All-Africa Games, the African Games are to be held in Accra Ghana between 8 and 23 March, 2024.
The same National team which flies to Accra will also be riding high at the forthcoming Paris Olympics in June 2024.
“We have a team of ten cyclists among them six male riders and four women cyclists,” said Godfrey Jax Mhagama the President of the National Cycling Association, who explained that the number of participants is being kept low due to availability of sponsors.
Mhagama revealed that they initially they wanted to field more cyclists, at least nine male riders and six female cyclists, but they are being realistic with fewer envoys and that the preparatory base will be kept at Babati, in Manyara because it is on higher attitude, which make it suitable for players.
“Babati also features good running tracks; the roads are favourable for practicing,” he explained, adding that the preparatory camp will run for three weeks, but should they get more sponsors the time may be extended.
The Pan African Games are a continental multi-sport event held every four years, under the organization of the African Union in conjunction with the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and the Association of African Sports Confederations.
Participants, who will ride in the African Games of March 2024 in Ghana, are the same cyclists who get to represent the country in the Paris Olympics coming up in France later in June 2024.
When it comes to female cyclists, Tanzania seems to be in dire straits as the country only has eight officially enlisted women riders so far.
The country is now working on a special program to recruit, train and grill special women cyclists in the country starting from tender ages, so as to ensure that Tanzania has female riders for future events.
Tanzania, according to the President of the National Cycling Association, has solicited assistance from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) to boost the country’s women participation.
UCI is the world governing body of cycling, recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
It was founded on 14 April 1900 in Paris (France). Its headquarters have been located at the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Aigle (Switzerland).
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